One would think that with all the gear I have, I’d have the sense to check the electricity ratings on a power supply. But NOOOOOOOO! I just saw 9V and didn’t check the amperage. Little did I know that the frickin’ thing put out 1000 mA. I just burned out FOUR F^&KING PEDALS! What a MORON!
I can’t be pissed because it was just plain lack of awareness AND being rushed to get to my gig. Luckily I have backups for everything except for my T-Rex Quint Machine. That one stung because it’s an expensive pedal. But I have to admit that I’m particularly bummed about my hand-wired Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay.
I’m sitting here just shaking my head. As I said, I’m not pissed, but I am a little heartbroken. The Deep Blue Delay has been a part of my sound for a long time, and I’m going to have to replace it. Honestly, I could use my MXR Carbon Copy, but that Deep Blue Delay was special. It’s the one pedal that was absolutely essential to be on all my boards. It is incredibly subtle and warm whereas the Carbon Copy, while good, isn’t nearly as subtle, though it’s great for a slapback sound.
But even the PCB version of the DBD – which is excellent and sounds like the hand-wired – is $195 new. Yikes! There are some good prices for used DBDs on Reverb.com, so I’ll probably go the used route for a replacement.
As for the Quint Machine… damn… that’s gonna be a stretch to replace. It’s a fantastic pedal, but damn…
Well, I’m gonna pour myself some bourbon and chill…
Guitar Gear 
Are you sure it was because amperage and not polarity? It shouldn’t be.
It could very well be polarity. I’m not an electrician – I’m actually deathly afraid of electricity – but it’s quite possible it was due to wrong polarity. All I know is that after I plugged in the power supply, I smelled electronics burning. I knew then that I was up shit creek. Oh well… live and learn!
Definitely shouldn’t be….please elaborate!
If a power supply specifies 9V and 1000mA, it will always give 9V (more or less), but will only yield as much current as the impedance presented to it asks for (Ohms law). If your pedal asks for 100mA, the power supply will not “force” 1000mA, that’s only the maximum current it will give. With some equipment you can even get into troubles if the current is less than the current that the device asks for.
But with polarity the situation is more critical: for the immense majority of pedals out there, the right polarity is “center-negative”. If you use the wrong polarity, you can fry the complete circuit or, if you are lucky and the circuit is well designed, just a cheap diode.
Thank you manolonte – that’s how I also understood it 😉
Can you measure that power supply, so you can see if voltage and polarity are correct?
just to make sure – this question needs to be pointed at ‘goofydawg’ the writer of ‘Don’t Be a Moron… Like Me’ 😉
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